Houston Leisure RV Resort Blog - Latest Camping News

Hello Camping Family! We hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday and are soaking in the long, dog days of summer. Isn’t camping season the best?

Families and friends visit our resort to relax, unwind, and spend quality time together! And where does everyone always end up? Around the ‘kitchen’ table because we all love to laugh, share memories, and EAT! There are TONS of delicious camping recipes out there (some that we plan to share at a later date) but balance is key to a healthy lifestyle.

So we’re coming at you with ways for you to find your fitness while you’re visiting our resort!

Take a hike (or walk)!

Hiking is a great way to explore, and a great way to burn calories – on average, 250 calories per hour. Hiking and walking can improve your cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. It’s also a great way to exercise your mind and clear your thoughts!

Go for a run!

If your body can handle this high-impact workout, running is a great cardio option! The benefits of running include stress relief, weight loss, and it has been shown to decrease your risk of certain diseases. And, like hiking, it’s a great way to explore your surroundings!

Take a dip in the pool or lake!

Ahhh, swimming! It’s low-impact so it’s easy on the joints and can be a great workout option for people of all ages. It’s a great total body workout, good for your heart, and can help tone all of your muscles!

Play games!

Watch your kids play together and you can learn some great workout tips. A friendly game of tag, a little basketball, riding bikes….They’re constantly running and jumping, lunging and squatting; they sure do keep it interesting. Follow in their footsteps – literally!

The most important thing to take away from this post is to choose a workout option that you’ll enjoy – that way it won’t feel like “work”. Stay active, have fun, and Happy Camping!

We are in the home stretch of our “Pin-worthy Camping Tips” Series and we hope you’ve been enjoying! Let us know if you tried any of the delicious camping recipes, family-friendly camping games, or if you’ve picked up any of our must-have camping items. Today, we’re coming in with even more tips to get you geared up and ready for your next camping vacation with us. We are bringing you Extravagant Extras! You don’t NEED them on your next camping trip – but we think you’ll really WANT some of them! You can pin your favorite tips to your own Pinterest Boards so they’re always just a click away!

Here are our Pin-Worthy Camping Tips – Part 4: Extravagant Extras!

1. We’re going to start our tips with 29 snuggly things to keep you comfy in the great outdoors! Waterproof socks, a wearable sleeping bag, and an inflatable chair are just the beginning of this awesome list. Click to stay cozy, everyone!https://www.pinterest.com/pin/137500594851450169/

2. Cool gadgets are where it’s at! This list includes 13 items you never knew you always needed on your camping vacations. They make a great gift for the camping lover in your life, or something you can gift yourself just because!https://www.pinterest.com/pin/372461831671744901/

4. Clever & convenient is the theme of this Pin-worthy list! One of our favorites from this bunch has to be the inflatable solar light that is lightweight, rechargeable, waterproof, and eco-friendly. So cool!https://www.pinterest.com/pin/76983474864301869/

Remember to save these Pin-worthy extravagant extras and share them with your family & friends. Then, leave us a comment and let us know which items you plan to bring on your next camping adventure at our resort!

We hope you enjoyed Parts 1 & 2 of our “Pin-worthy Camping Tips” Series! Let us know if you tried any of the delicious camping recipes or exciting, family-friendly camping games. Today, we’re coming in with even more tips to get you geared up and ready for your next camping vacation with us. We have found some must-have camping items that we just had to share. You can pin your favorite tips to your own Pinterest Boards so they’re always just a click away! Here are our Pin-Worthy Camping Tips – Part 3: Must-Haves!

THOUSANDS of RV owners around the country submitted their must-have RV camping accessories and so this amazing catalog was born. This expansive list covers it ALL! Seasoned RV campers are knowledgeable – they know what works and what doesn’t. Click to read their tips: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/332070172501137269/

This is a list of must-have items to keep in your car at all times…so why are we sharing it? Because your next camping trip in an RV, cabin, cottage, or tent will also benefit from having these must-haves on hand. Convenience is key – you’ll be so happy you read this list and have these items readily accessible!https://www.pinterest.com/pin/422281195871223/

The items on this Pin-worthy list may seem obvious and simple but they are definitely must-haves for your next camping adventure. Sunscreen, kitchen utensils, and bug spray are just a few of the items on this list. Click to see even more of these helpful must-haves: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/705798572823209397/

Remember to save these Pin-worthy must-have camping items and share them with your family & friends. Then, leave us a comment and let us know which items you plan to bring on your next camping adventure at our resort!

We hope you enjoyed Part 1 of our “Pin-worthy Camping Tips” Series! Let us know if you tried any of the delicious camping recipes. Today, we’re coming in with even more tips to get you geared up and ready for your next camping vacation with us. Camping games are a great way to get to know each other better, get in a good laugh, and create fun memories together. You can pin your favorite tips to your own Pinterest Boards so they’re always just a click away!

Here are our Pin-Worthy Camping Tips – Part 2: Camping Games!

This one will be fun for everyone! Explore and enjoy the great outdoors with this nature scavenger hunt. Keep your eyes open, and work in pairs, to find all of the items on this list! The pair that checks off every box first – WINS! You’ll be amazed at everything you can find outside.https://www.pinterest.com/pin/307300374556500114/

Summer weather gets toasty! While there is always the pool, there are other ways to beat the heat. Check out these 15 outdoor water games that the kids will really enjoy – most of these games include water balloons!https://www.pinterest.com/pin/56787645281656145/

Remember to save these Pin-worthy camping games and share them with your family & friends. Then, leave us a comment and let us know which games you’ll be playing on your next camping adventure at our resort!

2017 is literally flying by! Lucky for us, summer officially starts this month and we’re already knee deep in CAMPING SEASON! We want to make sure you’re armed and ready for your next trip to our resort – and so we begin our “Pin-worthy Camping Tips” Series! We will be focusing on Recipes, Camping Games, Must Haves, and Extravagant Extras. You can pin your favorite tips to your own Pinterest Boards so they’re always just a click away!

Dare we ask….what’s better than having only one pot to clean? That’s right, having NO pots to clean! Most of these foil-wrapped recipes can be cooked over a campfire, on a grill, or in the oven – with very (very!) little cleanup.https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436075176408650662/

A little something sweet is the perfect way to end any meal! Throw this easy, delicious s’more cone recipe on the grill next time – everyone can pick their “toppings” and make their own sweet treat!https://www.pinterest.com/pin/544302304949828677/

Remember to save these Pin-worthy recipes and share them with your camping family & friends. Then, leave us a comment and let us know which recipe you’ll be trying on your next camping adventure at our resort! Happy Cooking!

With recent passenger scuffles and power struggles, air travel has lost its luster. But sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination. If travel is your least favorite part of a family trip, why not consider an RV – otherwise known as a “home on wheels”?

Going camping in an RV allows you to slow down, kick back, and savor family time “in flux” from one stop to another. There’s no need to worry about unpacking your luggage, missing your connection or placing your pet in a kennel – your entire family travels with you. And just as homes and hotels run a gamut of shapes, sizes and styles, so do RVs vary, from the palatial to the petite to the pop-up trailer.

But no matter the level of amenities and creature comforts, RVs can boost the power of your vacation budget. Most RVs excel at weight and wind resistance—translating into fuel economy between eight and 20 MPG, depending on the RV you select. Here are tips to maximizing your RV muscle:

Rent before you buy. It’s the only way to explore and define your comfort level. Find an RV dealer who rents out the type of rig you’re interested in; and try your home on wheels for a weekend. Try finding a realtor who will let you do that with a house!

Bigger isn’t always better. The bigger the rig, the more complex the maintenance, and the larger your insurance bill. Shop around for the best rate and service before you buy.

When you’re crunching numbers, remember: camping fees may vary according to your RV’s size and style. Also, when you’re not traveling, you may need to store your rig at a facility for a fee.

Make sure you have the right equipment. That includes everything from a trailer hitch (for safe towing) to the GPS and Wi-Fi Booster to keep you connected.

If your family enjoys home-cooked meals, make sure your RV has kitchen options. If you prefer to dine out, look for two-for-one coupons and early-bird specials while rolling by restaurants. And if you fall somewhere in between, consider eating out at lunch and eating dinner in. To trim even more from your food budget, think beyond the big box supermarkets: buy food and sundries at discount stores, dollar stores, church bazaars, flea markets, roadside veggie stands, thrift bakeries, and u-pick orchards.

From pitching tents to gathering twigs, you need energy while camping. You can boost that energy by setting goals to eat more fruits and vegetables—ideally, the five to nine servings that nutritionists suggest. Some experts call it “eating low on the food chain”; and it packs a rich supply of benefits for energy, wellness and health.

Take advantage of farmer’s markets, supermarkets, and salad bars as you navigate campgrounds and country this summer. When it comes to packing produce for the great outdoors, here are a few tips:

Fruits with staying power to last a few days without denting, browning or molding include apples, cherries and blueberries. Plus, they’re not a mess to peel or clean up–just wash and serve. Bananas last a couple of days, but require a bit more TLC. If you have time, store a fruit salad of melons, pineapple, peaches and strawberries in a plastic container. The flavors will mingle to keep each other fresh.

Dry fruit is a champion: portable, compact and low-maintenance, supplying a quick dose of energy to boot. Mix raisins or Craisins with nuts, yogurt, oatmeal or dry cereal; or enjoy right from the bag.

Baby carrots and cherry tomatoes spell veggie victory. Add cucumber slices to dip into salad dressings; dip celery sticks in humus. Onions travel well to be chopped into one pot or pan dinners. And potatoes keep well for days, ready to support everything from breakfast hash browns to dinner casserole.

In the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, Greg Heffley’s mother confiscates her family’s phones and devices at the start of their cross-country road trip—even her husband’s—much to their torture and chagrin. The only connecting they’ll do, she declares, is to each other. Of course, the children and even the father resort to elaborate schemes to sneak the phones back into their possession without puncturing her idealism.

On long travel days that stretch over miles, it’s tempting to allow kids to fall back upon screens big and small, especially if your RV is equipped with the comforts of home. Why endure endless questions of “Are we there yet?” when the TV is a reliable distraction with minimal talk-back?

A little screen time is fine. But too much passive watching, whether on the big screen or the smart phone, lulls kids into sedentary states—failing to engage their bodies or even their minds. Harvard studies find that children who watch excessive television or YouTube have higher rates of obesity, due to both inactivity and the relentless food marketing during shows and commercials. Research also finds that kids’ constant access to small screens cuts into the sleep they need at night, contributing to lethargy and fatigue. And that can sap the energy they need to build for camping.

“Beyond the health effects, more than anything else when children are young, they need to spend time with real people: other children and adults,” says Steven Gortmaker, professor at the Harvard School of Public Health. “So we are very interested in helping parents lower the dose.” (link to http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/09/keeping-an-eye-on-screen-time/)

Instead of screen time on the road, try the following car games (courtesy Parents.com):

Theme song game. One player hums the tune to a favorite TV show, and everyone else tries to name the show as fast as possible. The first person to guess correctly hums the next song.

Animal Name Game. One player names an animal. Then each person in order has to name another animal that starts with the last letter of the previous animal named, without repeating!

Secret place race. One person looks at a road map and finds a small town, village, river, etc. That person announces the name of the place she has chosen. A second player has 60 seconds to look at the map and try to find the secret place.

Since the late 1990s, reported cases of Lyme disease have tripled in number. And this year, after observing a spike in tick-borne illnesses across the country, scientists have reported this camping season could be the worst tick season in years. They give credit (or blame) to the white-footed mice, able carriers of Lyme disease, who are feasting on copious amounts of acorns to thrive in number and play host to ticks. Experts also say that warmer weather fueled by climate change allows ticks to remain active longer, with more opportunity to venture into places formerly too frigid—introducing their pathogens to new regions of North America. Even during a run of severe winter days, ticks are able to bury deeply into the soil to survive. Ticks are now most prevalent in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. But everyone who plans to camp this summer should learn the facts about tick bites.

Make a fortress around your feet. Ticks don’t fly or land on you; they crawl up your body. Feet and ankles are the way ticks gain access to the body. Watch your legs, wear close-toed shoes, and use tick-killing repellants on both shoes and socks. And though it may be a nerdy look, try tucking your pants into your socks. Lyme disease is never in style!

Beware black legs. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are commonly carried by black-legged ticks, which are most active between May and July. Black-legged ticks have doubled in number in the last 20 years.

Repel the rascals. Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535. Contrary to myth, DEET is not harmful.

Remove immediately. Don’t waste time trying to “coax” a tick off your skin or trying a folk remedy like Vaseline, nail polish, or burnt match heads. Grab the tick with tweezers as close as possible to the skin, and pull straight out.

Watch for symptoms. Sometimes contracting Lyme disease leads to noticeable symptoms: a bulls-eye rash at the site of the tick bite, facial paralysis, and even swollen knees. But it’s not always obvious, and could lead to chronic complications such as memory problems, heart arrhythmia, and debilitating arthritis. If you experience visible symptoms or any fever, aches, fatigue, and joint pain, it’s best to seek medical attention immediately. Early intervention decreases the risk of serious complications.

Scrub and soak. Take a shower, give your children a bath, and dry clothing on high heat for 10 minutes. Have a spouse or friend check your back, neck, and scalp.

In our final installment of camping safely, we explore how to cook safely so you can enjoy “al fresco” dining that’s not fraught with risk for food-borne illness. Keep these tips in mind while planning your menu.

Take temperature. If your menu includes burgers and hot dogs, make sure you have the proper equipment to keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold! Besides the obvious equipment, such as portable stoves, make sure you have a food thermometer handy to determine whether your meat or poultry has reached a safe internal temperature. Ground beef may harbor Salmonella or E. coli, and only a thermometer can verify that patties are cooked to a minimum of 160 degrees F. Hot dogs should remain steaming hot.

Stay cooler. On the flip side (pardon the pun), keep perishables cool to stop contamination in its tracks. It’s thrilling to leave the dinner table by languishing under the sun with your meal; but remember: toxic bacteria multiply quickly within two hours, and within one hour on sweltering days. Pack at least two insulated coolers for your camping trip: one for drinks and snacks, and one for perishable food. Ice or frozen gel packs are a good idea, too. One last tip: pack coolers in reverse order, with food you plan to use first on top. That way you’ll avoid rummaging around to the point of disarray.

Sanitize hands and surfaces often; separate raw food from cooked. Roughing it outdoors shouldn’t mean throwing all caution to the wind; food safety is just as important in the great outdoors as in your kitchen.

Boil that beverage. Don’t rely on a lake or stream for your drinking water, no matter how clean it appears. If you’re not using bottled water, you should boil it for at least one minute.